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Hello there RSHTH readers! I’m Stephanie from Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes, and I am finally making my debut as a new contributor! I am so excited to be a part of this awesome group of gals. I cannot wait to share with you what God has placed on my heart and to encourage you in your adventure of Christian parenting!

(Editor’s note: Stephanie actually wrote this post back in August. Due to different things that came up on my end, this post was not put up until now. (Sorry, Stephanie!) Please go to Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes and catch up on what all Stephanie has been up to. Remember to keep her in your prayers!)

As you may have gathered from other posts, I’m one of the preggos. I am halfway through my second trimester with my second baby, but let me tell you about the first trimester…sick. Sick and tired. Sick and tired every day…all day! Oh my goodness, the second trimester is GLORIOUS! I’m only a few weeks away from the 3rd trimester, where things will get less glorious as I become more uncomfortable and start the ever so fun waddle walk. That just means I’m that much closer to meeting this sweet baby girl so I say…BRING ON THE WADDLE!

Everything about pregnancy is unpredictable. Same goes for delivery. Unless you are having a caesarean, you have no idea when or how quickly baby is going to come. Despite the unpredictableness (yes, that’s a word!) of growing tiny humans and delivering them into the world, you can prepare for the big day by having a bag packed and ready to go weeks before that baby decides to make his/her big debut. Wondering what to pack? Here are some essentials to pack for labor and delivery:

For Mommy:

Id/insurance card/hospital paperwork- You will likely visit the place you are going to deliver before baby is born. Fill out all paperwork ahead of time because when you are breathing through contractions, you don’t want to be filling out papers. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Comfortable outfits/pajamas/underwear/socks/outfit to wear home- You will be in a hospital gown during delivery (unless you buy one of those fancy laboring gowns) so bring 2-3 days worth of comfy clothes. You will want out of that gown as soon as you can be out of it!

Comfortable pillow- BRING YOUR OWN PILLOW! Hospital pillows are flat, flat, flat. They are possibly one of the most uncomfortable pieces of bedding to ever exist. You will be thankful that you brought yours.

Nursing bra – If you are going to breastfeed, a nursing bra is a must. Whoever created those was a genius. Easy accessibility!

Slippers- Hopefully you escaped the ever so dreaded pregnancy cankles, but if you haven’t, don’t fret. Most women experience swelling in their legs and feet during the third trimester. It goes away quickly after delivery, but bring some slippers to keep those tootsies comfortable.

Toiletries- The hospital provides toiletries, but it is a generic kind. I highly suggest bringing your own toothbrush/toothpaste/floss/deodorant/shampoo and conditioner and whatever other beauty products you want. Whatever you do, pack lip balm! With all that Lamaze breathing you will be doing, you will be so thankful that you packed lip balm!

For baby:

Outfits- It’s the moment you have been waiting for. Putting those sweet outfits on baby! Pack at least 2-3 outfits and maybe a few more, depending on how long your doctor plans to keep you in the hospital. Packing baby clothes is honestly the best part of the packing 😉

Baby book- As a nursery nurse, I have done many handprints and footprints on birth certificates. It is a skill!! If you bring your baby book, you can ask your nurse to put those sweet footprints and handprints in your book, and I bet she will be glad to do it!

2-3 swaddling blankets- The hospital will provide these, but it’s just fun to bring your blankies for baby. And oh do babies love to be swaddled!

Nursing pillow- If you are breastfeeding, the nursing pillows can be a major lifesaver. If you forget it, you can always use the flat hospital pillows. 😉

Baby nail clippers and baby mittens- Babies tend to be born with long fingernails. Nurses are generally not allowed to cut baby’s nails so be sure to bring your own nail clippers and mittens to cover those sweet hands from scratching their face.

Baby hat- Babies lose heat from their head rather quickly. That is why the nurses usually put a hat on them right after they are born. If your room is cold, your baby will be much happier with a hat on.

Car seat- You can’t leave the hospital without it! If you need help, most nursery nurses are trained in car seat safety and can help you.

Tech:

Phone/Camera/tablet and charger- You will want to make “the baby is here!” phone calls/texts so don’t forget your phone and charger! Some hospitals do professional photos of your newborn as a part of their service, but if they don’t, be sure to bring your camera and charger.

For Siblings:

Busy bag- If you have younger children, make a busy bag ahead of time with things for them to do. Search pinterest for busy bags and you will certainly find something to entertain your toddler. I really feel that it is important for them to be present and able to bond with the baby during those first few days, but as we all know, toddlers are busy people!

Gift from new baby to sibling- My 3 year old has already been putting together a gift bag for his baby sister (with mommy’s help, of course!) He is so excited to give these gifts to her! How surprised will he be when baby has a gift for him too!?

These are the essential things you will need. Take it from a mom who has been there/done that and is about to do it again, and an RN trained in OB/nursery. I got ya covered, sweet mommas!

Now that you know what to bring, it’s time to start packing. As a gift to you, we want you to have this adorable Labor & Delivery Packing List. Share it, print it, and start packing!

This post is just one of many posts in our

Check back with us for some FREE, fun, and CUTE pregnancy printables! Some of those posts include:

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About the author

Stephanie from Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes author

Howdy! I'm Stephanie. Mom to a little red headed boy and wife to Dr. Smartypants! I'm a Christ follower, DIYer, a list lover and coffee-aholic. I hope you find encouragement in my little posts about healthy living and maintaining a positive body image, faith, and parenting. So thankful that you stopped by! Come by and see me at Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes.